Truth needs to be told about casino

So the new casino is going to be almost twice as big and cost twice as much as originally planned. What a surprise! And all the increases are not for gambling operations, they are for amenities. Such as bars, snack shops, restaurants and an event stage for concerts.

None of these will have any negative effect on the local businesses in downtown Cedar Rapids, will they?

The casino business model requires that the customer (you) keeps gambling. So the casino does not want you to leave. Everything you would ever need or want is right there inside the building. I keep remembering the “sausage lady” in those casino commercials, who said that the casino would bring more customers to her store. Those customers won't get out of the casino, let alone to her store on 16th Avenue.

Not that I have anything against the casino. But I think that we all deserve to know the truth and understand the rules of the game.

The casino crowd is investing $160 million. They are smart people; they aren't betting that much money unless they have a good chance of making that and more.

There is only so much money to be spent here. If the casino is getting that money, other local businesses won't. Maybe we should rethink the water park idea.

Michael Shea

Marion